Court fiat to KPSC

‘Submit list of candidates interviewed and selected in batches of 1998, 1999 and 2004’

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to submit by Friday separate lists of candidates called for interview and those finally selected to Group A and Group B posts of gazetted probationer in the batches of 1998, 1999 and 2004.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued the direction while hearing public interest litigation petitions filed by candidates, who were not selected to the posts, seeking direction to redo the selection process as an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had found serious irregularities in KPSC selection process in these batches.

As the government reiterated that it was waiting for complete details from the KPSC on selected candidates, the Bench orally observed: “You [government] don’t have guts to issue even show-cause notice to any one even after the CID report. In fact, you seem to doubt your own agency’s report. You say the KPSC is not cooperating. When you are not willing, you can find hundreds of reasons…. Ultimately, it is those, who are meritorious and who should have been in government service, are the sufferers…”

Meanwhile, the court was informed that the government intends to have a fresh selection list after getting final data from the KPSC on persons appointed to various posts based on selection made by the commission in these batches. However, the KPSC requested 10 days’ time for providing complete data.